Voki

 = Raise Student Engagement with Vokimedia type="custom" key="19657066" align="right" = Voki allows teachers and students to create personalized speaking avatars. This free Web 2.0 tool accepts text, as well as recordings using your built-in computer microphone and/or audio files. Voki provides several HTML code options for your finished avatar that can be embedded into most online learning management systems.

How can I and other educators use Voki?

 * Create "presence" in online learning environments.
 * Short speaking assessment/directions for online learning activity.
 * Provide "just in time scaffolding" for learning activities.
 * Differentiate content delivery in online settings.
 * Spice up an online learning blog, web page or wiki.
 * Communicate with peers, parents and/or students outside of the online learning environment.
 * Offers an opportunity to practice writing and listening to speech online.
 * Provide online directions in Spanish (or other language) for ELL students.
 * An option of an alternative online assessment (e.g. Students can create an avatar that resembles a character from a story, add a setting and give it speech).

I. Create a Voki.
Step 1. Get to Know Voki
 * Sign-up for Voki, go to []
 * Register (top right).
 * Fill in the required information. RECORD the email and username you have used.
 * You need an email account to confirm your registration. An activation email will be sent to the email address used.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Watch this video tutorial on Voki:

media type="youtube" key="0FjBJZS5xys" height="315" width="560"

Step 2: PLAY with Voki
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Customize your avatar:
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Select type, change hair, eyes, and BLING!
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Give it a voice, select gender and accent.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Choose a background.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pick a player color.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Publish it to email or get code to put it on a website, wiki or blog.

Step 3: Share Your Voki's URL in Your Online Class
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">When you are finished,
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Select the PUBLISH Your Voki button;
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Be sure to SELECT STANDARD VOKI URL LINK or the Embed;
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">COPY that URL link or code;
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">PASTE it to your online learning course as link or HTML.